Suture retainer with multiple circumferentially spaced attachment points and suture retention method

Abstract

The suture retainer according to one aspect of the invention has a retainer body and a plurality of suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about the retainer body, each of the suture attachment mechanisms (such as a pair of teeth) being adapted to hold a suture strand at a discrete attachment point. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of securing a suture in a suture retainer, including the following steps: providing a suture retainer having a retainer body and a plurality of suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about the retainer body; and attaching a suture strand to the retainer body at each of the suture attachment mechanisms. Yet another aspect of the invention provides a suturing method including the steps of: attaching a first end of a suture strand to a suture retainer; contacting a tissue contact portion of the suture strand with tissue to be sutured, the tissue contact portion being disposed between the first end of the suture strand and a second end of the suture strand; and attaching the second end of the suture strand to the suture retainer at a plurality of suture attachment points spaced circumferentially about the suture retainer.

1. A suture retainer comprising a retainer body, the retainer body comprising:
 a wheel portion including a substantially planar first flange and a substantially planar second flange, the first flange and the second flange defining an outer circumference of the wheel portion and the first flange being spaced from the second flange about the outer circumference, thereby forming an outward radially open channel throughout the outer circumference, and at least three suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about the retainer body between the first flange and the second flange, wherein each of the suture attachment mechanisms is adapted to hold a suture strand at a discrete attachment point, and further wherein the wheel portion includes a first aperture extending therethrough substantially perpendicular to the first flange and the second flange, and the wheel portion includes an alignment aperture extending therethrough spaced from and substantially parallel to the first aperture; 
 a plug portion adapted to cooperate with the aperture in the wheel portion, the plug portion comprising,
 a plate; 
 a pair of lock arms coupled to the plate, each lock arm having a distal end extending away from the plate in a first direction; 
 an alignment peg extending away from the plate in the first direction; 
 a slot disposed between the lock arms; and, 
 a cam surface on each lock arm, each cam surface extending from the distal end of the lock arm on which the cam surface is situated, 
 wherein both cam surfaces contact the first aperture in the wheel portion upon insertion of the lock arms into the first aperture to cause the lock arms to bend at least partially into the slot, 
 
 wherein the alignment peg and the alignment aperture form an alignment mechanism adapted to orient the plug portion with respect to the wheel portion, wherein the alignment mechanism at least substantially prevents rotation of said plug portion with respect to said wheel portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein each suture attachment mechanism comprises at least a pair of teeth. 
     
     
       3. The suture retainer of  claim 2 , each pair of teeth comprising a pair of inclined facing edges that diverge from a medial section of the wheel portion toward the outer circumference of the wheel portion. 
     
     
       4. The suture retainer of  claim 3 , the inclined facing edges of at least one pair of teeth forming an angle of less than or equal to ten degrees. 
     
     
       5. The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein each suture attachment mechanism is adapted to releasably hold the suture strand. 
     
     
       6. The suture retainer of  claim 5  wherein each suture attachment mechanism releasably holds the suture strand independent of the releasable hold of the suture strand by the other suture attachment mechanisms. 
     
     
       7. The suture retainer of  claim 1  further comprising a suture guide mechanism adapted to maintain an angle between the suture strand and one of the suture attachment mechanisms. 
     
     
       8. The suture retainer of  claim 7  wherein the suture guide mechanism comprises a projection from the retainer body. 
     
     
       9. The suture retainer of  claim 8  wherein the suture guide mechanism projects from the wheel portion. 
     
     
       10. The suture retainer of  claim 8  wherein the suture guide mechanism projects from the plug portion. 
     
     
       11. The suture retainer of  claim 10 
 wherein the suture guide mechanism comprises a projection from the perimeter of the plate, the projection including a hooked portion spaced from the wheel portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The suture retainer of  claim 7  wherein the suture guide mechanism comprises a projection from the perimeter of the retainer body, the projection including a hooked portion spaced from the wheel portion. 
     
     
       13. The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein the plug portion is movable with respect to the wheel portion. 
     
     
       14. The suture retainer of  claim 1  further comprising a snap connection between the plug portion and the wheel portion. 
     
     
       15. The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein the at least three suture attachment mechanisms are substantially equally disposed around the first aperture.